什麽是美國的VBS？

這個問題是柔柔的剛剛今天問我的，所以我一定要耐心細致地回答一下。

 VBS是Vacation Bible School 的簡稱，是美國教堂在暑假為孩子們提供的宗教教育課。VBS以接納小學生和學前班的孩子為主。

 VBS的曆史可以追溯到1894年。美國的第一個VBS就是在那年興起的。現在的VBS，通常有聖經故事講解，唱歌跳舞，手工，表演等活動。

 VBS通常是免費的，但有一些教堂會收少量的材料費。比如我家小寶今年夏天要去的這個VBS，就收了$30的費用。

 VBS通常持續一周，上半天課。VBS的教學內容非常輕鬆靈活，屬於寓教於樂那種。

 和美國孩子相比，我們中國孩子去VBS的人數相對少。知道為什麽嗎？VBS通常是半天上學，如果大人要上班，中午扔下工作去接孩子，非常不方便。除非是大家合夥開車(CAR POOL)，輪流接送。

 如果你對VBS感興趣，把妞子寄到我家來吧。我可以天天負責接送。

 

Vacation Bible School (VBS) is a specialized form of religious education which focuses on children. Churches usually hold the week long events during the summer, though the lengths of such programs may vary, and they are sometimes held during other times of the year.

History

The origins of Vacation Bible School can be traced back to Hopedale, Illinois in 1894. Sunday school teacher D. T. Miles, who also was a public school teacher, felt she was limited by time constraints in teaching the Bible to children. So, she started a daily Bible school to teach children during the summer. The first Bible school enrolled forty students and lasted four weeks. A local school was used for classes, while an adjoining park was used for recess.[1]

In 1898 Eliza Hawes, director of the children's department at Epiphany Baptist Church in New York City, started an "Everyday Bible School" for slum children at a rented beer parlor in New York's East Side. Hawes continued her efforts for seven years.[2]

Dr. Robert Boville of the Baptist Mission Society, became aware of the Hawes' summer program and recommended it to other Baptist churches. Boville established a handful of summer schools which were taught by students at the Union Theological Seminary. During one summer, one thousand students were enrolled in five different schools. In 1922, he founded the World Association of Daily Vacation Bible School.

 Today

Today, many churches run their own Vacation Bible School programs without being under the umbrella of a national organization. Some churches opt to use themed curriculum programs from their respective denominations or independent publishing houses which provide easy preparation and include marketing tools.

Modern programs usually consist of a week-long program of religious education which may employ Bible stories, religious song, arts and crafts, skits, or puppet shows which cater toward elementary school-aged children. Groups of local churches who do not have the resources to run VBS for the entire summer may elect to coordinate their schedules to provide continuous childcare.

Most churches provide VBS programs at no cost to those attending. Some churches, however, may charge a nominal fee for the program. The cost, if any, is established by the church.

 

 

6/8/10  9：07PM